live coverage of president obama in chicago and mitt romney in boston. and your reaction, by phone, e- mail, facebook and twitter. look for live coverage beginning at 8:00 p.m. eastern. "washington journal" continues. joining us is fred sainz, of the human rights campaign. why is the same sex ballot important? guest: marriage equality has never won at the ballot box. we have four races across the country. we stand a good chance for marriage equality to really be a firm -- affirmed by voters and our country for the first time in history. as a very important one for committed and loving gay and lesbian couples across the country that want nothing more than the freedom to marry. host: what states are involved? guest: the state of washington, maryland and maine. and in minnesota we are fighting a constitutional amendment that would prohibit marriage equality. legislature is in both of those states, they passed a law into effect, and catholic governors in both of those states signed those bills, both of those states have laws that allow citizens to go and ref